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Wallace back after posting big numbers at Triple-A

Wallace back after posting big numbers at Triple-A

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Wallace's leaping grab 0:12

3/25/13: Brett Wallace makes a leaping catch on a liner off the bat of Ryan Zimmerman to end the top of the first inning

By Brian McTaggart
/
MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- It's been more than two months since Brett Wallace was sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City following a 1-for-24 slump, including 17 strikeouts, to start the season. He flourished with the RedHawks and was rewarded with a callup to the Astros on Tuesday.

"It's definitely exciting," he said. "A lot of hard work went into it."

Wallace hit .326 with 15 doubles, 11 homers and 37 RBIs in 59 games at Oklahoma City, hitting both lefties (.332) and righties (.329) well. Wallace gives the Astros an option at third base now that Marwin Gonzalez has been sent down, and he can play first base and designated hitter.

"It's good to get Brett back," manager Bo Porter said. "He went to Triple-A and did everything we asked him to do. He swung the bat well down there, played first and third. He was on the Opening Day roster and was one of our starters and had a setback, but at the same time, he's earned the right to have this opportunity."

Porter rewarded him with a start on Tuesday at designated hitter.

"That was awesome," Wallace said. "Bo said there would opportunities and I told him I was ready to do whatever it took. When that first lineup went up and I looked at it, I was pretty excited to be in there."

Wallace made a few minor adjustments to his swing while in Oklahoma City, focusing on moving his hands up like he's done in the past. Other than that, his success was about getting back in the flow at the plate and regaining confidence.

"Hitting's crazy in that sense," he said. "You can lose your rhythm pretty quickly, but you can also gain it back quite quickly. Once I got down there and started doing my work, I feel like I got my rhythm back quickly and from there, just tried to work hard every day."